Study information

Programme Specification for the 2020/1 academic year

LLB Law with Legal Placement

1. Programme Details

Programme nameLLB Law with Legal Placement Programme codeUFL4LAWLAW07
Study mode(s)Full Time
 Academic year2020/1
Campus(es)Streatham (Exeter)
 NQF Level of the Final Award6 (Honours)

2. Description of the Programme

This four year degree programme is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board and covers all the foundation subjects required to pass the Academic Stage which forms part of the professional qualification as a barrister or solicitor. On graduation you will be able proceed to the Solicitors’ Legal Practice Course or the Barristers’ Bar Professional Training Course. After core modules in the first two stages, you will work in a prescribed legal organisation in stage three. On your return to Exeter in stage four, you will undertake a compulsory dissertation module focused on your work in legal practice / legal innovation and select from a range of optional modules.

We aim to offer as many activities as possible to help broaden career development and equip students with the skills employers find most valuable. These include activities and skills developed through learning and teaching, such as group work, research and analysis, communication and argumentation, and advocacy and negotiation; as well as other extra-curricular activities, including a team building exercise, employer visits, mooting, pro bono and other skills sessions (such as CV building and employment applications), which provide many opportunities to gain transferable skills and to meet and interact with potential employers.

3. Educational Aims of the Programme

1. To provide you with a thorough knowledge of the foundation subjects of English and EU law which meets the professional requirements for the academic stage of legal training, as determined by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, and give you the opportunity to acquire and develop essential analytical, practice-facing and marketable transferable skills.
2. To enable you to extend your legal knowledge and understanding beyond the foundation subjects of English law by providing you with a basic knowledge and understanding of selected elements of legal practice and the professional ethics of the workplace.
3. To enable you to identify, locate and critically appraise English legal materials and those of another legal system.
4. To enable you to understand some of the major theoretical foundations of law and to evaluate them.
5. To enable you to understand law and its operation in its social, political, economic and legal practice contexts.
6. To develop your ability to undertake independent research and to apply comparatively the principles of law and legal rules in different common law jurisdictions as well as in a formal workplace setting.
7. To encourage you to reason logically, supporting the process with legal authority, academic commentary and by reference to other relevant materials.
8. To provide you with a comprehensive and integrated legal education through study on individual modules and through the complementary interaction of modules across the programme.
9. To provide you with insight into the practice of law with a particular focus on innovation and technology and future challenges to the practice of law through a legal placement.
10. To provide you with the necessary personal and key skills to enable you to develop as an independent, autonomous and reflective individual and generally as a developing professional.

4. Programme Structure

The placement year is taken in Stage 3 and is spent working in a legal organisation with which the University of Exeter has partnership links. These currently include Reed Smith in London. During the placement year you will be expected to complete assessments which in total amount to 120 credits.  

5. Programme Modules

The following tables describe the programme and constituent modules. Constituent modules may be updated, deleted or replaced as a consequence of the annual programme review of this programme.

https://socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/students/undergraduatemodules/

Due to the qualifying nature of the Exeter LLB with Legal Placement degree, no modules are condonable.

Stage 1

120 credits compulsory modules (4x 30 credits).

Compulsory Modules

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW1036 Legal Foundations 30Yes
LAW1003 Criminal Law 30Yes
LAW1004 The Law of Contract 30Yes
LAW1035 Constitutional and Administrative Law 30Yes

Optional Modules

None

Stage 2

90 credits of compulsory options (3x 30 credits).

Compulsory Modules

 

 

 

 

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW2017 Land Law 30Yes
LAW2015 The Law of Torts 30Yes
LAW2041 Equity and Trusts OR30Yes
LAW2103 European Union Law 15No
LAW2906 Legal Professionalism non-credit bearing module: Legal Professionalism0No

Optional Modules

15 credits of option modules to be taken from those offered in the Law School.

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW S2 opt 2020-21
LAW2093 EU Trade Law 15 Yes
LAW2095 Equality and Diversity 15 Yes
LAW2104 Changing the Law - Theory and Practice 15 Yes
LAW2105 Advanced EU Law 15 Yes
LAW2109 Competition Law 15 Yes
LAW2139 Comparative Contract Law 15 Yes
LAW2144 International Law and the United Kingdom 15 Yes
LAW2145 The Law of Freedom of Expression 15 Yes
LAW2171 Human Rights and Human Dignity 15 Yes
LAW3187 Criminal Law, History and Theory 15 Yes
LAW3188 Internet Law 15 Yes
LAW3189 Shipping Law 15 Yes
LAW3190 Artificial Intelligence and the Law 15 Yes
LAW3191 International Commercial Arbitration 15 Yes

Stage 3

Your third year will be spent on legal work placement. Your workplace contract will be organised directly with your employer which is a partner organisation to the Law School. During your placement you will undertake modules equivalent to 120 credits. You will be required to show appropriate evidence of satisfactory attendance and performance during your placement. 

Compulsory Modules

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW3700 Law with Legal Placement: Placement Module 120Yes

Optional Modules

The choice of modules that you take is dependent on the modules offered or required by the host university.

Stage 4

30 credits compulsory modules.  90 credits of optional modules.

Compulsory Modules

The object of the dissertation is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and analysis of an aspect of the law that impacts on the future of the legal profession relying upon knowledge from your third year placement as well as academic research materials. 

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW3047B Innovative Law in Practice Dissertation 30Yes

Optional Modules

 

CodeModule Credits Non-condonable?
LAW SF opt 2019-20
LAW3003 Criminal Law 30 Yes
LAW3003B Criminal Law 30 Yes
LAW3011 Gender, Sexuality and Law 15 Yes
LAW3019 Commercial Law 30 Yes
LAW3100 Human trafficking and modern slavery 15 Yes
LAW3102 Art and Law 15 Yes
LAW3182 Competition Law 15 Yes
LAW3178 The Law of Freedom of Expression 15 Yes
LAW3020 Family Law 30 Yes
LAW3024 Public International Law 30 Yes
LAW3026 Employment Law 30 Yes
LAW3028 Intellectual Property 30 Yes
LAW3030 Introduction to Discrimination Law 15 Yes
LAW3043 Company Law 30 Yes
LAW3059 Alternative Dispute Resolution 15 Yes
LAW3083 Company Law Foundation 15 Yes
LAW3093 (European) Internet Law 15 Yes
LAW3132 Islamic Law and Society 15 Yes
LAW3137 Lethal Force, the ECHR and Democracy 15 Yes
LAW3142 Environmental Law and Planning 30 Yes
LAW3146 International Law, Conflict and Strategy 30 Yes
LAW3148 Human Rights Law: The European Convention On Human Rights 30 Yes
LAW3153 (European) Consumer Law 15 Yes
LAW3154 Insurance Law 30 Yes
LAW3155 Law, Politics and Power 30 Yes
LAW3156 Immigration, Nationality and Asylum Law 30 Yes
LAW3160 Family Law: Child Law 15 Yes
LAW3184 International Commercial Litigation 15 Yes
LAW3185 International Family Law 15 Yes
LAW3165 Charity Law 30 Yes
LAW3167 Access to Justice Clinic 30 Yes
LAW3168 Criminal Justice and Evidence 30 Yes
LAW3169 Equality and Diversity at Work 15 Yes
LAW3170 Medical Ethics and Law 30 Yes
LAW3171 Human Rights and Human Dignity 15 Yes
LAW3172 Access to Justice Advice 30 Yes
LAW3173 Technology and Human Rights Law 15 Yes
LAW3175 Medical Ethics and Law Foundations 15 Yes
LAW3176 Researching Public International Law 15 Yes
LAW3181 United Nations Law 15 Yes
LAW3186 Law, Politics and Power 15 Yes

6. Programme Outcomes Linked to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Intended Learning Outcomes
A: Specialised Subject Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of the theoretical, conceptual and practical features of the English legal system, its institutions and procedures (see Educational Aims - 1. above).
2. Demonstrate a competent knowledge and capacity to reflect on the work of the legal organisation where you had your placement as well as, its procedures.
3. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the fundamental rules, theories, principles and conceptual framework of the seven foundation subjects of English and EU Law and of those optional legal subjects selected for study, as well as related academic opinion, (see Educational Aims - 1, above).
4. Follow and understand current developments in English law in the subjects of study and to have some appreciation of the current developments in the legal profession and the future of law (see Educational Aims - 1-3, above).
5. Research a legal question and demonstrate competence in applying legal knowledge in order to formulate and evaluate a response to it (see Educational Aims - 3, above).
6. Demonstrate competent understanding of some of the relevant legal practice, social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical and cultural contexts within which the law operates in each of the jurisdictions studied (see Educational Aims - 1-3, above).

Subject knowledge and skills are acquired through lectures, student 
syndicate meetings and tutor-led seminars and surgeries; library tuition; 
essays; legal skills workshops, formative work, reflective learning and 
presentations.  



Students will be required to complete a non-credit bearing on line module – Professionalism in Law in preparation for work placement and must submit a plan of their dissertation by the end of their placement year.

1 Unseen or seen examinations 1-6: for example, all compulsory modules involve an unseen examination; some optional modules involve a seen examination – see optional module details; 
2 Open/closed note examinations 1-6: for example, all stage one compulsory modules involve a closed note examination; some stage three optional modules involve an open note examination – see optional module details; 
3 Assessed essays 1-6: for example, in 2015-16 the compulsory stage two Land Law module involves an assessed essay; from 2016-17 all stage two compulsory modules will involve an assessed essay; some stage three optional modules also involve assessed essays – see optional module details; 
4 Dissertation 1-6: writing a dissertation is an option in stage three; there is also a shorter Research Paper option; 
5 Assessment of legal skills 1-6: this runs through all Law modules, but the English law-facing skills are especially emphasised in the stage one compulsory Legal Foundations module.

6. Business report writing 1 – 6, eg as part of the Legal Placement module.

Intended Learning Outcomes
B: Academic Discipline Core Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

7. Identify, locate, retrieve and evaluate efficiently English and selected foreign legal and other relevant information in paper, electronic and on-line form, with minimum guidance.
8. Use theoretical legal knowledge to provide practical advice and imaginative solutions to particular problems, independently and effectively.
9. Work independently to synthesise information from a number of primary and secondary legal and other sources; appreciate their relative value; and separate the relevant from the peripheral.
10. Make an independent and effective critical judgement about the merits of particular arguments and make reasoned choices between alternative solutions or arguments.
11. Communicate technical legal information and argument effectively and concisely, orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the discipline and in task-specific ways

Essays; lectures; syndicate meetings, seminars, legal skills workshops and formative work.

6 Essays / coursework 7-11: for example, in 2015-16 the compulsory stage 
two Land Law module involves an assessed essay; from 2016-17 all stage two compulsory 
modules will involve an assessed essay; some stage three optional modules also 
involve assessed essays – see optional module details; 

7 Legal skills 7-11: developing legal skills runs through all Law modules, but 
this is especially emphasised in the stage one compulsory Legal Foundations module; 

8 Oral presentations require you to put across your arguments clearly and 
concisely 7-11: all syndicate meetings, seminars and other workshops, as well 
as assessed presentations, require you to do this – particular examples include 
the assessed presentations in Legal Foundations and all compulsory module 
seminars to which students are expected to contribute; 

9 Examinations often contain a large element aimed at testing ability to 
separate the relevant from the irrelevant. 7-11: this applies to all modules 
assessed by examination – see above.

Intended Learning Outcomes
C: Personal/Transferable/Employment Skills and Knowledge

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
On successfully completing this programme you will be able to:		Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) will be...
...accommodated and facilitated by the following learning and teaching activities (in/out of class):...and evidenced by the following assessment methods:

12. Manage time effectively, plan activity and prioritise tasks by working to strict deadlines, and demonstrating an ability to work under pressure.
13. Work and interact effectively and proactively in a group, share information and ideas, and manage related practical matters.
14. Work independently, managing your time and learning resources, and developing appropriate task-specific strategies.
15. Communicate clear and reasoned arguments, accurately and effectively, in both oral and written form.
16. Reflect on, evaluate and assess own learning and ability autonomously, and where necessary proactively seek and make effective use of advice and feedback
17. Identify, retrieve and use, independently and efficiently, a range of library-based and electronic resources with minimum guidance.
18. Apply appropriate strategies for solving conceptual and practical problems, making critical judgements and choosing autonomously between alternative solutions and arguments.
19. Reflect comparatively and in an effective way on legal learning in two jurisdictions.

Key skills are an integral part of the degree programme. Particular 
aspects of the programme focus on personal and key skills development. Syndicate 
meetings and seminars encourage students to work independently and in groups 
with the aim of presenting and criticising materials in interesting and varied 
forms (skills 12-19),  Essays (skills 12,14-19); lectures (12,14,15,18,19); legal skills workshops (skills 12,13, 14,15,16,18,19), 
Personal Development Planning and Personal Tutor meetings focus upon a student’s 
development of all key skills and their ability to reflect upon this and in 
particular skill (16).

 

 

11 Examinations (skills 12,14,15,16,18,19): this applies to all modules assessed by examination – see above.

12 Assessed Essays (skills 12,14,15,16,17,18,19): this applies to all modules assessed by essay – see above.

13 Oral presentations (12,14,15,16,17,18,19): this applies to all modules involving oral contributions and assessed presentations – see above.

7. Programme Regulations

Assessment at stage one does not contribute to the summative 
classification of the award. The award will normally be based on the degree 
mark formed from the credit weighted average marks for stages 2, 3 and 4 
combined in the ratio 4:2:8 respectively.

Classification

Full details of assessment regulations for all taught programmes can be found in the TQA Manual, specifically in the Credit and Qualifications Framework, and the Assessment, Progression and Awarding: Taught Programmes Handbook. Additional information, including Generic Marking Criteria, can be found in the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook.

8. College Support for Students and Students' Learning

Personal and Academic tutoring: It is University policy that all Colleges should have in place a system of academic and personal tutors. The role of academic tutors is to support you on individual modules; the role of personal tutors is to provide you with advice and support for the duration of the programme and extends to providing you with details of how to obtain support and guidance on personal difficulties such as accommodation, financial difficulties and sickness. You can also make an appointment to see individual teaching staff.

As an undergraduate student in the College of Social Sciences and International Studies you will be allocated a Personal Tutor at the commencement of your studies. In normal circumstances your Personal Tutor will remain your tutor throughout your study programme. Your Personal Tutor is normally available through scheduled office hours, but should also see you as a matter of course three or four times a year (depending on your year of study); these meetings may typically commence soon after registration. These meetings will take place once or twice mid-year to discuss your progress and to perhaps consider Personal Development Planning (ePDP) and once to discuss your overall performance. The ePDP is a particularly useful developmental tool which you are encouraged to utilize and which is accessible though the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE).

You should feel that you are able to approach your personal tutor for advice, pastoral support or academic support in a wider sense.

Library, ELE and other resources provided to support this programme:  
The Library offers you core services for learning and research. Whilst the various locations house a large collection of materials and services, many of our resources are available online through this website http://as.exeter.ac.uk/library/ for you to use at home, work or wherever you are located for your study. Each discipline has a subject librarian on hand to help you to find resources and we also work with tutors to digitize reading lists for inclusion in the Exeter Learning Environment (ELE).

Exeter Learning Environment (ELE) is used throughout the University to make course materials available online. You will be able to access module information, presentations, handouts, reading materials as well as interacting with other students and your tutors. Many tutors use ELE to run assessments and set coursework assignments. In addition to the materials provided by your tutors, there are various other resources available on ELE to help you in your studies, for example, you will be able to access your ePDP, the University’s online PDP system, which has been developed to help you keep an ongoing record of your academic, work and extra-curricular experiences, and help you develop action plans and personal statements.

The University provides a range of IT services, including open and training clusters of PCs (available on a 24/7 basis). In the Social Sciences and International Studies College this includes a 24/7 suite in Amory, based in the Law Library and a second one in the St Luke’s Campus Library. These suites are accessible by swiping your university card. The majority of the College also has access to the university’s wireless network. Network access is available from the majority of rooms in University halls of residence through the ResNet system.

At St Luke’s there is also a college-based open access suite (South Cloisters 14) providing access to another 20 machines. Entry is again made by use of your university card and it is open from 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday.

All of these suites have the standard ‘palms’ printing systems in them (printing from credit held on your university card). At the St Luke’s Campus there is also a cash-based printing service at the GSE Print Unit based in South Cloisters.

Please see link below for further information on the IT Services facilities on the Exeter Campuses: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/media/universityofexeter/forum/public/Study_map_A4_2pp_Term3.pdf

Helpdesks are maintained on the Streatham and Cornwall campuses.

9. University Support for Students and Students' Learning

Please refer to the University Academic Policy and Standards guidelines regarding support for students and students' learning.

10. Admissions Criteria

Undergraduate applicants must satisfy the Undergraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Postgraduate applicants must satisfy the Postgraduate Admissions Policy of the University of Exeter.

Specific requirements required to enrol on this programme are available at the respective Undergraduate or Postgraduate Study Site webpages.

11. Regulation of Assessment and Academic Standards

Each academic programme in the University is subject to an agreed College assessment and marking strategy, underpinned by institution-wide assessment procedures.

The security of assessment and academic standards is further supported through the appointment of External Examiners for each programme. External Examiners have access to draft papers, course work and examination scripts. They are required to attend the Board of Examiners and to provide an annual report. Annual External Examiner reports are monitored at both College and University level. Their responsibilities are described in the University's code of practice. See the University's TQA Manual for details.

(http://as.exeter.ac.uk/support/admin/staff/qualityassuranceandmonitoring/tqamanual/fullcontents/)

12. Indicators of Quality and Standards

 

13. Methods for Evaluating and Improving Quality and Standards

The University and its constituent Colleges draw on a range of data to review the quality of educational provision. The College documents the performance in each of its taught programmes, against a range of criteria on an annual basis through the Annual Programme Monitoring cycle:

  • Admissions, progression and completion data
  • In Year Analysis data
  • Previous monitoring report
  • Monitoring of core (and optional) modules
  • External examiner's reports and University and College responses (reported to SSLC)
  • Any Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body/accrediting body or other external reports
  • Consultation with employers and former students
  • Staff evaluation
  • Student evaluation
  • Programme aims

Subject areas are reviewed every four years through a periodic subject review scheme that includes external contributions. (http://admin.exeter.ac.uk/academic/tls/tqa/Part%209/9JREVISEDPSRSCHEME.pdf)

14. Awarding Institution

University of Exeter

15. Lead College / Teaching Institution

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS)

16. Partner College / Institution

Partner College(s)

Not applicable to this programme

Partner Institution

Not applicable to this programme.

17. Programme Accredited / Validated by

136

18. Final Award

LLB Law with Legal Placement

19. UCAS Code

Not applicable to this programme.

20. NQF Level of Final Award

6 (Honours)

21. Credit

CATS credits

480

 ECTS credits

240

22. QAA Subject Benchmarking Group

[Honours] Law

23. Dates

Origin Date Date of last revision